Analyst Flip-Flops Again: Thinner iPad Mini in Late 2013, Retina Display in Early 2014

[hleewell]

iPad gets a retina in its third iteration and a very nice processor upgrade in its 4th. What makes you think Apple would release a super duper version this soon?

 

[michaelsviews]

100% Retina display

I'm no ANAL yst but I'd think that if apple kicks out a retina display in the mini this year it would make perfect sense, holiday's coming and all that

I'll wait for the Retina display.

 

[TimWillz]

I don't think so

I can't see the mini getting any thinner, i think Apple's priority is to work on getting a retina display into the second generation.

 

[lars666]

iPad gets a retina in its third iteration and a very nice processor upgrade in its 4th. What makes you think Apple would release a super duper version this soon?

Different case, as display technology moves on and "Retina" got more common and therefore is more demanded by the customers now than when the first/second iPad came out. Apple will shoot itself in the leg releasing the second iPad mini without doubled resolution again.

 

[fertilized-egg]

You’re very right, it's margins are supposedly much lower than other iDevices and a display at that res would cost a lot more. I was just being a little jaded in my opinion

Mind you that the technology just wasn't available at any cost. Even if the Mini was more expensive, it would've been impossible to make something light and thin with that resolution. Bringing the same pixel density to a tablet isn't that easy when you're fighting against heat and battery life until they have IGZO or another super duper technology ready to produce millions of panels.

Situation A is great for the mini, but leaves the iPad with an inferior resolution to its cheaper, smaller brother (and at this point in time I cant see the iPad pixel doubling to come in at a whopping 528ppi!

It doesn't have to be doubled from the iPad Retina resolution. The base resolution of the iPad iOS is 1024x768 and the resolution just has to be an integer multiple of that number, which means it can be tripled to 3072 x 2304, which is roughly 400ppi and isn't that unreasonable.

 

[Wicked1]

If this is true no iPad Mini for me, I will go for an iPad 4th Gen Refurb or maybe an Android Tablet. I am not in a dire need for a Tablet, but the new Mini should be Retina, who cares if it is thinner, it needs retina and A6

 

[powers74]

These analysts. If they're not flip-flopping, they're flop-flipping.

(what value do they add again?)

lol, well I was going to say, do you really have to say "flip-flops again" after "Analyst"? It's really sort of redundant.

 

[modest serving]

I don't expect to see an iPad mini with retina display this year, but I sure do hope to see one.

If it is upgraded with retina display this year, then I will buy two of them on day one. My wife has been wanting a mini, and I have convinced her to wait until the fall for the second generation. If it doesn't have retina, then I expect to buy her the first gen model and myself a full size model. I guess, either way, Apple wins.

 

[not1lost]

I think a new iPad Mini with an A6 processor and WITHOUT a Retina Display is a fantastic idea! Retina Display is nice and all, but on the iPad, it needs a lot more battery power and a way more powerful GPU. The iPad Mini can be a tiny bit sluggish at times, so with an A6 and 1GB RAM, this can be a speed machine with even better battery life (a 12 or 13-hour battery life on an iPad Mini could be a sweet thing).

The Retina effect is worth the price, but I honestly don't miss it on the iPad Mini. With games, photos, and video, the iPad Mini screen is perfectly fine. As with web-browsing, I believe Apple should increase the font in Safari to make sharper and easier to read.

I think Apple will take the same direction as it did with the Macbooks. Want a super thin, portable device? Get the iPad Mini. Want a higher quality display and more powerful specs? Get the iPad Retina.

I don't think we'll see an iPad Mini with Retina Display anytime soon, especially if the iPad 5 gets a new design and becomes thinner, lighter, and overall smaller making it closer to the size of the Mini.

Took the words right out of my mouth! I have an iPad Mini and frankly I don't see the need for a retina display; it's as clear and crisp as anyone should want or need. Even the processor is fine for what I do with it, no lag at all in anything. The iPad Mini is a content consumption device, not a content production device. Leave the heavy duty work to the devices made for that. I have a Macbook Air and an iMac and use them according to the load I will be putting on the device. As far as the comparison with the Macbook Air verses the Macbook Pro, this is a perfect illustration of Apple's strategy I believe. So, I agree, dont look for an iPad Mini retina anytime soon, maybe an updated processor just for the sake of updating it and get better battery life. Like has been said above, retina display technology is expensive and the Mini is a low end product; but without a low end experience; it's perfect in my opinion just like it is for all around everyday use.
Peace.

 

[interessiert]

Maybe they offer in future a mini less expensive and one with Retina. Anyway: fastness is quite a tasty spice of consumption
Go into an Apple Store and compare sending an e-mail (Mail) and opening a bigger website (Safari). You will easily realize the difference of processor (WiFi is much better in iPadRetina). Then open a library of iPhoto and enlarge a portrait photo - to get it clear is also a consumer's wish like me Furthermore we need a processor which delivers the capability of LTE in Germany on rural region ([Mhz]: 800/1800 Telekom, maybe 2600 O2). And what is with Lightning-to-USB? A lot of parameters to wait for curious how long I will keep my patience
They will probably make 2 steps as they did with Air nowadays (they should make Retina to come back to market's peak of quality, but they first give the mini a better processor...) - waiting for Air Retina, too

...I don't see the need for a retina display; it's as clear and crisp as anyone should want or need. Even the processor is fine for what I do with it, no lag at all in anything.
Peace.

 

[Tysknaden]

In my humble opinion, the screen's quality is more important than the device' thickness and weight. At least for the iPad Mini, which will not become unusable with an increase of weight and thickness.
This "thinning mania", Apple does suffer from, is not a logical thing, anymore. And - at a certain point - it does not even do anything for aestethics. On the contrary, the proportions of a device can become disharmonic. And what it provokes additionally, is a no-good feeling, that all, one is holding, is a plate of glas, doomed to break. If the weight goes down too much, devices start to make one feel of having bought something with low value; this is an investigated psychological fact.
All this sermon means: Apple should do it again, if needed: The Mini could go the same interim step, the bigger iPad underwent in between version 2 and 3 - becoming a little bit thicker and heavier. Would be an acceptable price for having Retina, which would allow a better readability for eBooks and a better overview for surfing.
Also, Apple should finally stop offering devices with less than 32 gigabyte.

 

[MrClam]

it is widescreen. with extra space at the top and bottom.

so you either want the ipad to have less screen space than it has now, making it smaller, or you want to make it long, like really long.

It's currently a 4:3 resolution.

They could make it a bit longer, like they did with the iphone 5, to make it 16:9.


And use that extra space for some good quality front facing speakers.. hell maybe even a bass speaker at the bottom too.. That'd rock.

 

[KenAFSPC]

My prediction:

Apple A6 class CPU
1GB RAM (up from 512MB)
More power-efficient display
Slightly improved battery
802.11ac wireless
8mpixel iSight camera
IOS7
$279-299 (instead of $329)

Apps can use this device to clear out excess inventory of iPhone 5 components and/or to provide an outlet for lower bin parts (or an initial test run of parts) produced on TSMC's new 20nm process. These are parts that are not good enough for the iPhone and/or iPad Retina.

I would expect the price to drop to $249 when Apple unveils the iPad Retina in ~March for around $349.